Combination odometer and ignition switch



Feb. 14, 1950 o. E. BECKER 2,497,340

COMBINATION ODOMETER AND IGNITION SWITCH Filed Feb. 25, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fl-g- 1..

1N VEN TOR.

Feb. 14, 1950 0. E. BECKER 2,497,340

- COMBINATION ODOMETER AND IGNITION SWITCH Filed Feb. 25', 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q dNVENTOR. 20

Patented Feb. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION ODOMETER AND IGNITION SWITCH Otto Edward Becker, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 25, 1947, Serial No. 730,869

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a removable odometer for motor cars and the like, that is adapted to open and close the ignition circuit and is operated by a conventional key.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an odometer that may be removed by the ignition key for trip record purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means for large fleet operators to ascertain visually from a central office the time each car requires specific services.

A further object of the invention is to provide a key operated removable odometer that may be left in the car and the key removed as with the conventional ignition systems.

A further object of the invention is to provide an odometer that may be carried with the operator when he is not driving.

With these and incidental objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, a preferred form of which is hereinafter shown with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a front view of the combination odometer and ignition switch mounted on the hub of a steering wheel showing how it will combine with my speedometer as shown in United States Patent No. 2,094,651.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the device mounted on a dashboard showing how the drive is connected to the existing speedometer cable.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 33, of Fig. 2.

Fig. i is a front view of the device with the odometer removed.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the odometer and key removed from its casing.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional View taken on line 17 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the drive end of the odometer.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of the odometers driving element.

The body element l is cylindrically shaped and contains the odometer 2 in one half and the key slot 3 and the tumblers 4, 5 and 6 in its other half. The body element is rotably disposed in the casing 1. The flexible drive shaft 8 has the pointed square drive end 9 which engages the square hole ID of the odometer. The shaft 8 terminates in the right angle drive II, which interconnects the speedometer l2 and the 2 speedometer drive shaft 13. The flexible tube 14 houses the shaft 8. The casing I has the tumbler pins l5 that cooperate with the tumbler pins 4, 5, and 6.

The contact points It and H are operated by the shoulder pin l8. To place the odometer trip key into the casing 7, the longitudinal slot I9 is lined up with the pin 18 and shoved inwardly, the chamfered end 20 camming the tumblers l5 upwardly as it goes in. The key 21, it will be noted, aligns with the out position. As the key is turned to the off position, the pin I8 is operating in the cam slot 22 and the tumblers l5 and 4, 5, and 5 are in aligmnent. It is obvious that if the key is removed at this point, the tumblers [5 will push the tumblers 4, 5, and 6 downwardly locking the body I rigidly in place.

When the key is turned to the on position the cam slot 22 pushes the pin 18 thus causing the points l8 and I! to contact making the ignition circuit. Reversing the operation, the key may be turned to the off position and the key removed as with the conventional car or if turned to the out position the key and the odometer may both be removed.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the form of embodiment herein shown and described as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming within the scope of the claim which follows:

What I claim is:

In combination with an ignition switch and odometer drive disposed in a housing, a cylindrical body having an odometer at its inner end, the outer end of said cylinder comprising a lock cylinder with key slot and tumblers, a longitudinal slot on the exterior of said cylindrical body extending from the inner end to a transverse cam slot, said slots adapted to align with a fixed pin in said ignition switch housing to permit rotation and withdrawal of said cylindrical body.

OTTO EDWARD BECKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,219,939 Hammond et a1. Mar. 20, 1917 1,330,869 Harter Feb. 17, 1920 1,537,538 Lober May 12, 1925 2,087,665 Green July 20, 1937 2,272,460 Green Feb. 10, 1942 

